Preliminary Remarks: Ancient Oriental Philosophy
Introductory remarks on the character, sources, and significance of ancient Oriental philosophy among the Semitic and Aryan peoples.
Ancient Oriental philosophy — the thought of the Semitic and Aryan peoples of the pre-classical East — is distinguished from Greek philosophy by its predominantly religious character: Oriental thought moves from religion to philosophy, using rational reflection to deepen and systematise a prior religious vision, rather than beginning with wonder about the natural world. Among the Semites (Hebrews, Chaldeans, Egyptians) philosophical elements are embedded in a theological-religious framework revealed or traditionary in origin. Among the Aryans (Hindus, Persians, Chinese) more independent philosophical reflection developed in the service of religious aspiration. Oriental thought's influence on the Western tradition is primarily indirect: through the Hebrew revelation that shaped Christian philosophy, and through the Hellenistic channels by which certain Oriental themes (particularly Platonic-Oriental synthesis) reached the Western philosophical mainstream.
Noe, rescued with his children from the Deluge, became the second father of the human race. The families of his sons, Sem, Cham, and Japheth, multiplied rapidly, and at first all lived together in one place. But after the attempt to build the Tower of Babel to the height of heaven and the consequent confusion of tongues, these families separated. The children of Sem remained in the ancestral territory. The family of Japheth moved north and east into Asia. The children of Cham went south into Africa. There is a close affinity in religion and philosophy between the descendants of Cham and of Sem. This may be due, in some measure, to the invasion of Chamitic Egypt by the Hyk-sos, who were of Sem, in the 20 century b. c. Because of this affinity the History of Philosophy includes the Chamitic peoples in the class called Semites. This Book deals with the philosophy of the Semites—Hebrews, Chaldeans, Egyptians—and with that of the Japheth-ites or Aryans—Chinese, Hindus, Persians. The Book is therefore divided into two chapters of three articles each, as follows : Chapter I. Philosophy of the Semites Article I. The Ancient Hebrews Article 2. The Chaldeans Article 3. The Ancient Egyptians Chapter II. Philosophy of the Aryans Article I. The Ancient Chinese Article 2. The Ancient Hindus Article 3. The Ancient Persians 7